Tag Archives: wind waker

It is clear, therefore, that Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas exists in a rather tight balance. If on one hand it is indeed an enjoyable game that will hold the attention of kids and adults alike throughout its duration, even luring some of them into tackling all of its secrets; on the other hand it is clearly far from the best experience of its kind, as it chooses to neatly follow in the footsteps of a franchise that simply cannot be beaten at what it does. Had it taken a more subversive approach to some gameplay aspects or opted to carve out a feature it could call its own, Oceanhorn could have easily excelled. But as the path it takes is that of a pretty blatant clone, it merely entertains while it lasts. Nevertheless, it cannot be denied that the Finnish Cornfox & Bros. pay a good enough homage to The Legend of Zelda and give one heart-warming nod to one of its most remarkable outings, the unforgettable The Wind Waker.

A technically perfect game, the Wind Waker complements its visuals and soundtrack, which are the peaks of the franchise in both areas, with a quest whose theme of adventure is executed brilliantly through incredible sidequests, a moving plot, an absurd degree of free-roaming exploration, and a fascinating gargantuan ocean that is populated by easy-to-love characters that give the place life and lore. Its tiny flaws in no way diminish the overwhelming greatness emanating from nearly everything it touches, and the result is a masterfully designed game whose adventurous heart and spirit transcend the realm of words and adjectives.

Ever since the release of the original The Legend of Zelda game, Nintendo has done a vast number of experiments with the franchise, often making precise tweaks in the attempt to deliver the ultimate Zelda experience. The result has been a collection of games of such consistently high quality that it becomes impossible to confidently point out the overall best installment, given that each game has shone particularly bright in one or more areas. In these Zelda Awards, ten distinct categories are selected and the finest game in each one of them gets its deserved accolades.

Wind Waker’s journey remains an enormous landmark for the franchise and for Nintendo. It is a tale full of heart, challenges and truly shocking twists, but the most important of the game’s qualities is that it emanates a feeling of adventure and exploration that is hard to achieve.